Owner FAQ
Answers to the questions Oakland and East Bay property owners ask us most.
What does OPM charge?
Management is 6–8% of the gross rent collected, and leasing is 50% of the first month’s rent. We don’t mark up repairs or services, and there are no other fees. Your exact management rate is confirmed in your written proposal.
What’s included in management?
Leasing and screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, bookkeeping and owner statements, Oakland Rent Adjustment Program compliance, and Section 8 administration for voucher tenancies. See For Owners for details.
How do you handle Oakland rent control compliance?
For Oakland buildings, we keep your business tax filings current, register covered units with the Rent Adjustment Program (RAP), provide the required RAP notices, prepare rent increase notices with the required attachments, and prepare responses to RAP tenant petitions, coordinating with your attorney when needed. See our Oakland Rent Control & Just Cause page.
How do you screen tenants?
We apply the same written criteria to every applicant, looking at income, rental history, and credit history. We follow federal, California, and Oakland fair housing laws: we accept Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and other lawful sources of income, and we don’t ask about criminal history, consistent with Oakland’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance. See our Rental Criteria.
How does maintenance work, and what can you approve without me?
We handle resident requests, schedule qualified vendors, and keep up with routine upkeep. We’ll agree with you on a repair approval limit before we start, and we’ll walk you through it in your proposal. In a true emergency, we act right away to protect residents and the property and let you know as soon as possible.
When do I get owner statements and payouts?
You’ll receive regular owner statements showing income and expenses. We’ll walk you through statement and payout timing in your proposal.
How long is the contract, and can I cancel?
We’ll walk you through the terms, including the contract term and how cancellation works, in your proposal. We also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not satisfied, you don’t pay. The details are in your proposal.
Do you have Section 8 experience?
Yes. Saj Shah specializes in Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) and low-income housing. We handle housing authority inspections, HAP contracts, rent reasonableness, and rent increase requests with the Oakland Housing Authority and other local housing authorities.
How do I switch from my current manager?
Review your current management agreement for its notice requirements, then let us know. We’ll coordinate the handoff with your current manager — leases, tenant ledgers, security deposit records, keys, vendor information, and RAP records — and introduce ourselves to your residents.
How do you fill vacancies?
We market vacancies, show units, and screen applicants promptly. Our average lease-up is 12 days, and our buildings average 97% occupancy.
What about evictions?
We’ve had zero evictions in the last 8 years. We focus on clear communication, consistent lease enforcement, and working out problems early. If legal action is ever unavoidable, it must be based on one of Oakland’s Just Causes, and we coordinate with your attorney. Nothing on this site is legal advice.
Do you manage outside Oakland?
Yes. We work throughout Oakland and the East Bay. Oakland’s rent and eviction ordinances apply only to properties in the City of Oakland; buildings elsewhere follow state law and any local rules that apply there.